Portable saw



J. C. JAQUES PORTABLE SAW Dec. 17, 1946.

Filed June 14, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 JOHN C. JAQUES INVENTOR..

A1 TORNEYS Dec. 17, 1945. J c JAQUES 2,412,705

PORTABLE SAW Filed June 14, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ,15

JOHN C -m%%%s xr'ronnavs Dec. 17, 1946. J, JAQUES 2,412,705

PORTABLE SAW Filed June 14, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 JOHN C. JAQUESINVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 17, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in portable saws.

The present invention is directed to improvements and simplificationsrelating to the portable saw disclosed in my copending application,Serial No. 648,351, filed February 1a, 1945.

An important object of this invention is to provide an improved portablesaw, including the type of saw known as a one man power saw, wherein aflexible drive shaft is provided for rotating the saw blade, wherebycomplicated gearing and shafting, along with the expense involved inmanufacturing such elements, is eliminated.

- Another object of the invention is to provide an improved saw of thetype described which is simple and compact in construction and whereinthe saw blade carrying member is formed to eliminate bulkiness in thecutting section of the structure so that relatively inaccessible. pointsmay be reached with comparative ease by the operator of the saw.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improvedportable saw having a unitary housing enclosing the drive shaft for thesaw blade and extending from the driving source to the saw in asubstantially continuous manner.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide an improved portablesaw which is compact in structure and efficient in operation, and whichpossesses many advantages over similar saws developed heretofore.

A construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafterdescribed together with other features of the invention.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of thefollowing specification anc' by reference to the accompanying drawings,wherein an example of the invention is shown, and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a portable saw constructed in accordancewith this invention, portions of the view being broken away to moreclearly show the structure of the saw,

Fig. 2 is a plan View,

Fig. 3 is an enlarged, Vertical, sectional view, showing the drivingconnection between the drive shaft and the engine,

Fig. 4 is an enlarged, vertical, sectional view of the bearing mountingfor the lower end of the drive shaft,

Fig. 5 is an enlarged, vertical, sectional View, partly in elevation,showing the details of the bearing construction for the upper end of thedrive shaft,

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view taken one horizon tal plane and showing thedetails of the idler pulley linkage,

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the front torque tube support,

Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the rear torque tube support,

Fig. 9 is a vertical, cross-sectional view, taken on the line 9-9 ofFig. '7, and

Fig. 10 is a vertical, cross-sectional view, taken on the line Ill-4U ofFig. 8.

In the drawings, the numeral l0 designates a horizontal frame whichconverges toward its front end. Between the transverse center of theframe and its front end, said frame is secured on a transverse axle IIby U-bolts l2. Ground wheels is are provided at either end of the axleI! for movably supporting said frame. It is to be noted that the axle ll is positioned well forward of the transverse center of the frame forreasons to be pointed out hereinafter. A bipod front standard i4 isfastened on the front end of the frame and a pipod rear standard I5 issecured on the frame substantially at the transverse center thereof.

The front standard M has a semi-circular clamp or collar member I 6secured to its upper end and a complementary clamp member I! is: hingedthereto at It. See Figures 7 and 9. The members IB'and I! constitute asplit clamping collar. The collar members i6 and U have complementarylongitudinal lips !9. -A screwthreaded linch pin 29 is screwed throughthe lips. By swinging the handle of the pin, the collar members aretightened or loosened about a torque tube 2! extending through thecollar.

The rearward end of the torque tube is supported in a collar member l 5'similar to the member i6 and secured on the upper end of the rearstandard l5. See Figures 8 and 10. The upper collar member I l is hingedto the member I6 at l8 and both members have lips l9 connected by alinch pin 26', whereby the torque tube may be clamped or loosened. Therear end of the tube is formed with an outwardly-directed annular flange22 which abuts the rear end of the adjacent clamping collar. The forwardportion of the tube curves downwardly through ninety degrees so that theextreme forward end 23 of the tube extends at right angles to the rearend of the tube.

A cylindrical bearing box 24 has its upper end reduced to form an axialsleeve 25 and a shoulder 26. The sleeve 25 has a press fit within thelower end 23 of the torque tube, the lower extremity of the tubeabutting the shoulder 26 so that the bearing box is rigidly secured tothe lower end of the torque tube and extends axially thereof. See Figure4.

A flexible drive shaft 27 extends throughout the length of the torquetube 2 i, and is enclosed within a flexible tube The sleeve is formedwith an axial bore 29 and the flexible tube 28 has a press fit therein,the upper end of the pin being beveled at 36 to facilitate thepositioning of the flexible tube within said bore. An annular internalflange M is provided at the lower end of the bore 29 abutting the lowerextremity of the tube 28. The shaft extends below the flange 3l'and hassecured to its lower end a spindle 32 provided with an outwardlydirected annular flange 33 at its upper end and a bearing face 34.

The bearing box 24 is provided with an enlarged axial bore 35 which isreduced at its upper end to form a circular recess 3'6 within which theflange 33 is positioned. A pair of roller bearings 37, separated by aring 38, are positioned within the bore 35 and engage the bearing face 32 of the spindle 32. The uppermost bearing 31 engages the shoulderformed by the reduced upper portion of the bore 35, and a circular snapring 39 engages beneath the lower bearing within an annular groove 20provided in the lower wall of the bore 35 to prevent downward movementof the bearings and the divider ring 33. An oil collector ring 4!, whichmay be any desired type or construction, is positioned in the extremelower end of the-bore below the snap ring 39 to retain lubricant withinthe bearing box.

The spindle 32 is reduced in diameter below the bearing face to form ashoulder 42, and a spacer ring d3 encircles the reduced portion of thespindle, the upper end of the ring abutting said shoulder. Ascrew-threaded pin M is provided beneath the ring 43 upon the spindleand a circular saw blade 35, of any desirable type or design, ispositioned on said pin. A pair of beveled plates 46 engage upon the pinon either side of the saw 45, the upper plate abutting the spacer ring43, and a pair of retaining nuts 41 engage the pin beneath the lowerplate $5 to securely fasten the saw upon the pin and the spindle 32. Thepin is milled away at diametrically-opposed sides to form flat faces i8thereon, and the saw carries complementary splines (not shown) forengaging the faces d8 so that the saw is splined to the pin and rotationof the saw with respect to the pin is prevented. A grease fitting 50 isrecessed in one side wall of the bearing box 24 so that lubricant may besupplied to the bearings At the upper end of the torque tube 2 l, agland M, which engages within the upper end of the tube, is provided,said gland carrying upon its outer end an outwardly-directed annularflange 52 which abuts the flange 22 formed on the torque tube. SeeFigure 5. The shank of the gland has a snug fit within the tube 2!, andthe upper end of the flexible tube 23 has a press fit within the bore 53of said gland, the bore being reduced in diameter to form a shoulder 54against which the upper extremity of the flexible tube 28 abuts. Theforward edge of the gland is beveled at 55 to facilitate insertion ofthe flexible tube into the bore of the gland. A pair of roller bearings58 are positioned in the reduced portion of the bore 53 to support astub shaft 51. The shaft 51 is formed at its forward end with a circularrecess 58 within which the upper end of the flexible drive shaft 2! hasapress fit so that thestubshaft and flexible shaft revolve as a unit. Theshaft 51 projects beyond the rear end of the gland 5| and carries adouble-grooved pulley 59 secured to said projecting portion by asuitable key 60. The bore 53 is enlarged or counterbored at its extremerear end to provide an annular groove 6!, and a suitable oil-retainingring $2 is positioned within said groove so as to encircle the stubshaft 51 and retain lubricant within the space surrounding said shaft.The shaft carries a small axial bore 63 extending forwardly from therear end of the shaft and terminating in a transverse passage 64provided at a point spaced rearwardly from the bottom of the recess 58.A suitable grease fitting 65 is mounted in the outer end of the bore 63so that lubricant may be supplied through the bore 63 and the passage 64to the bearings 55.

While the saw is shown in the drawings in a horizontal position, it maybe disposed vertically or at various angles by rotating the torque tube2!. The linch pins 29 and 2% may be rotated to loosen the clampingcollars and allow such rotation of the tube. A notched collar 56 issecured on the tube contiguous to the front edges of the collar members[6 and I7, and a? latch $7 is pivoted on the member H. The latch isadapted to engage within the notches carried by the collar 53 to holdthe torque tube against rotation when said tube has been rotated to thedesired position. The linch pins 20 and it may then be rotated totightenthe clamping collar and anchor the tube securely at the desired angle.

A power plant in the form of a gasoline engine 68 and a fuel tank 69 ismounted on the rear end of the frame it. A double-grooved drive pulleyEll, fastened on the end of the shaft, is somewhat less in diameter thanthe pulley 59 secured to the saw drive shaft. Suitable V-belts llconnect the pulleys it and 59. These belts are of such length as torequire a belt tightener to make them trackin the grooves of the pulley.An idler pulley l2 journaled on a shaft 713 extending rearwardly fromthe upward end of a tightener arm l4 engages the inner faces of thebelts. See Figures 3 and 6. The arm is pivoted at its lower end on astud l5 extending from the side of the standard It. A forwardlyextending bracket '56 is secured to one side of the engine 58 and a bellcrank lever H is pivoted on this bracket; the forward end of said leverbeing connected to the tightener arm by an angular link i8, and thepitman T9 of Y a band lever being pivoted to the opposite end of saidlever.

A pair of rearwardly-extending handle bars 8| have their forward endsattached to segment plates 82, fastened on each side of the rear end ofthe frame If), by bolts 83. Each plate has 'a' plurality of holes 84spaced equidistantly from the bolts 83. Bolts 85 extending through thehandle bars are engaged in the holes to fasten said bars at variousinclinations. The bars have hand grips 88 at their rear ends and areconnected by a bridle bar 8?.

The hand lever 80 is pivoted to the left-hand handl bar and an angularthrottle lever 83 is pivoted on the bar 8! adjacent the grip of theright-hand handle bar 8| (Fig. 2). The rear end of a throttle rod 89 ispivoted to the lever 88, while the forward end is attached to thethrottle of the engine (not shown). When the engine 68 is running, thebelts II will be loose and motion will not be imparted to the pulley 59until th belts are tightened by the idler pulley 12. Therefore, a clutchis not required; To-drivethe saw 45, the operator merely has to squeezethe hand lever 8% toward the grip 86, which will 7 pull the pitman l9rearwardly, thereby actuating the lever Ti to swing the arm 14 outwardlyand cause the idler pulley 12 to tighten the belts H. l

The utilization of a belt driv is of advantage to protect the sawagainst damage. If the saw blade should stall for any reason, the beltswould slip and protect the driving mechanism from serious damage. Also,by controlling the pressure exerted upon the hand lever 80, the speed ofrotation of th saw may be controlled to a certain extent.

As pointed out hereinbefore, the axle H is positioned somewhat forwardof the transverse center of the frame If}. The weight of the saw andtorque tube, being positioned forwardly of said axle, tends tocounterbalance, substantially, the weight of the engine 53 and theadjacent driving mechanism, The entir saw is thus well balanced so thatthe operator may handle the unit with ease and with a minimum offatigue.

Th foregoing description of the invention is explanatory thereof andvarious changes in the size, shape and materials, as well as in thedetails of the illustrated construction may be made, within the scope ofthe appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A portabl saw including, a frame mounted on ground wheels, a pair ofupstanding standards spaced longitudinally on the frame, clamps on theupper ends of the standards, a longitudinally arcuate torque tubesecured in said clamps and overhanging the front end of the frame, acircular saw suspended from the front end of the tube, flexible sawdriving means extending through the tube connected with the saw, anengine mounted on the frame in rear of the standards, a belt drivebetween the engine and the saw driving means, a handle bar extendingrearwardly from the frame, a belt tightener mounted on the frame havinga pulley engaging the belt rive, and actuating means mounted on thehandle bar connected with the belt tightener.

2. A portable saw including, a frame mounted on ground wheels, a pair ofupstanding standards cured in said clamps and overhanging the front endof the frame at least the overhanging portion of the torque tube beinglongitudinally ar cuate, a flexibl tube within the torque tube, acircular saw suspended from the front end of the tube, flexible sawdriving means extending through the flexible tube and connected with thesaw, an engine mounted on the frame in rear of the standards, a flexibleendless driving connection between the engine and the saw driving means,a handle bar extending rearwardly from the frame, controlling meansmounted on the frame having a roller engaging the flexible endless drivefor tightening the same and controlling transmission of rotativ movementthereby, and actuating means mounted on the handle bar connected withthe controlling means.

3. A portable saw including, a frame mounted on ground wheels, a pair ofupstanding standards spaced longitudinally on the frame, clamps on theupper ends of the standards, a lonitudinally arcuate torque tube securedin said clamps and overhanging the front end of the frame, a circularsaw suspended from the front end of the tube, flexible saw driving meansextending through the tube connected with the saw, an engine mounted onthe frame in rear of the standards, a belt drive between the engine andthe saw driving means, a handle bar extending rearwardly from the frame,a belt tightener mounted on the frame having a pulley engaging the beltdrive, actuating means mounted on the handle bar connected with the belttightener, and means carried by the torque tube and cooperating withmeans carried by one of the clamps for locking the torque tube inselected angular positions.

t. A portable saw including, a frame mounted on ground wheels, a pair ofupstandingstandards spaced longitudinally on the frame, clamps on theupper ends of the standards, a torque tube having a straight portion anda longitudinally arcuate portion, the straight portion being secured insaid clamps and the longitudinally arcuate portion overhanging the frontend of the frame, a circular saw suspended from the front end of thetube, the positioning of the straight portion of the torque tube in theclamps providing for rotative adjustment of said portion in the clampsand thereby angular adjustment of the plane of the arcuate portion ofthe tube and the plane of cut of the saw, flexible saw driving meansextending through the tube connected with the saw, an engine mounted onthe frame in rear of the standards, a belt drive between the engine andthe saw driving means, a handle bar extending rearwardly from the frame,a belt tightener mounted on the frame having a pulley engaging the beltdrive, and actuating means mounted on the handle bar connected with thebelt tightener.

5. A portable saw including, a frame mounted on ground wheels, a pair ofupstanding standards spaced longitudinally on the frame one forward andone rearward of the ground wheels, clamps on the upper ends of thestandards, a longitudinally arcuate torque tube secured in said clampsand overhanging the front end of th frame, the rearward end of the tubebeing disposed rearwardly of the ground wheels, a circular saw sus- 1pended from the front end of the tube, flexible saw driving meansextending through the tube connected with the saw, an engine mounted onthe frame in rear of the standards, a belt drive between the engine andthe saw driving means, a handle bar extending rearwardly from the frame,a belt tightener mounted on the frame having a pulley engaging the beltdrive, and actuating means mounted on the handle bar connected with thebelt tightener.

JOHN C. JAQUES.

